Core Strength Exercises

1. Lie on a padded floor with your knees bent in front of you. Your feet should be flat on the floor.
2. Cross your hands on your chest and keep your chin pointing upward. Chin placement is the key to a good crunch; if your chin touches your chest or neck than you are doing this exercise wrong.
3. Curl your body straight upward so that your head comes up without lunging. This is a controlled motion. Only your head, neck, and shoulder blades should lift off the floor.
4. Pause there, squeezing your abdominals.
5. Then slowly lower back to your original position.

1. Lie on your back on a padded floor.
2. Bring your knees up to a 45-degree angle, then begin to move them in a pedalling motion as if you were riding a bicycle.
3. As you pedal, your head lifts off the floor and your elbow touches the opposite (bent knee).
4. Continue to breath evenly throughout this exercise.

According to an About Exercise article, a study done by the American Council on Exercise indicated that the Bicycle Crunch targets the rectus abdominis (six pack) and the obliques better than any other core exercise.

1. Lie face down resting on your elbows with your palms down.
2. Lift off the floor so that your back becomes flat and your elbows are directly under you while on your toes.
3. Contract your abdominals and hold that position with your back flat for approximately 20 seconds or more.
4. Lower back to the floor slowly.

1. Lie on a side and raise yourself onto your forearm (left) and the side of your foot (left). Your left shoulder should be directly above your left elbow.
2. Contract your abdominals so as to keep yourself in a straight alignment and hold.
3. There are several variations of the side plank that can be more or less complex than this standard.